Everything You Need to Know About Baseball College Recruiting

Want to Play College Baseball?

High school student-athletes aspiring to play college baseball must work hard to maintain good grades and improve their skills on the field. However, this is just the beginning of the recruitment process. It’s a common misconception for student-athletes to assume that if they are good enough, coaches will automatically find them and offer them a spot on their team. In reality, student-athletes must take an active role in the recruitment process and be equally invested in it as they are in honing their skills.

The competition for college baseball recruitment is fierce, with approximately 34,500 college baseball players vying for only 5,400 baseball scholarships. As such, it’s crucial for student-athletes and their families to be proactive and not procrastinate when it comes to initiating the recruitment process. Although it may be time-consuming and frustrating, families should not be intimidated by it. To help with this process, we have put together a comprehensive guide that outlines each step of the college baseball recruitment process and provides insight into the milestones along the way.

Our baseball recruitment guide is broken down into several major sections for easy reference. It was created by our team of former college athletes and coaches who have firsthand experience with the recruitment process from both sides. They have provided expert insider tips to help families gain a competitive edge and to assist recruits in finding the college baseball program that is the best fit for their athletic and academic goals.

Get familiar with the rules and important dates for baseball recruiting.

The NCAA has strict regulations on how coaches can recruit student-athletes and when such recruiting can take place. As a result, two of the most common questions regarding baseball recruiting are: “When can a college coach contact a student-athlete?” and “When can a student-athlete contact a coach?” College coaches are only permitted to contact athletes during specific periods and under specific conditions to avoid any improper communication. Although athletes may initiate contact with coaches, coaches may not be allowed to respond, depending on the recruiting period.

To ensure a smoother journey for student-athletes and their families throughout the baseball recruitment process, it is important to stay up-to-date with the latest college baseball recruiting rules and recruiting calendar. This section covers these rules and regulations.

Learn more about important dates and rules for baseball recruiting.

Recruiting guidelines for baseball by position

Coaches have certain measurable attributes they seek in their players. How do these measurements compare between recruits and college players? Additionally, how does the player’s position affect their chances of being recruited and earning a scholarship? Athletes can use this information to refine their college selection process and identify programs that are a good match for their abilities and goals. To assist with this, our team of ex-baseball coaches and athletes developed a set of position-specific guidelines to help players determine the ideal division level for their skillset.

Find baseball scholarships

College is one of the top five expenses that can consume up to half of a family’s lifetime earnings, according to Forbes magazine. Therefore, finding ways to alleviate this financial burden is a top priority for families who wish to make the most of their college budget. However, full-ride baseball scholarships are uncommon, and scholarships for baseball players in general are limited and depend on the division level.

For instance, Division 1 baseball programs have only 11.7 scholarships to award for a roster of 30 players or more, while Division 2 programs have only nine. On the other hand, Division 3 schools do not offer athletic scholarships, but they provide merit-based financial aid. In this section, we will examine the various baseball scholarship opportunities and provide guidance on how to secure the most advantageous and practical offers.

What steps you need to take to get recruited to play baseball in college?

Based on a 2018 survey conducted by the NCSA, college baseball coaches tend to begin evaluating potential recruits during their sophomore and junior years of high school. Tournaments, showcases, and camps are the primary venues where recruits are discovered. However, student-athletes cannot rely solely on coaches to find them; they must be proactive in communicating with coaches and persistent in following up. Otherwise, there is a risk of not being on a coach’s radar when it comes to identifying potential recruits for evaluation.

In addition to being proactive, student-athletes also need to identify schools that match their interests and goals. What information should be included in the subject line of an introductory email to get a coach’s attention? How long should a skills video be? What types of events are best for showcasing one’s skills to coaches?

From the first discussions about playing college baseball to the signing day, there are specific milestones and benchmarks that must be achieved throughout the recruiting process. By combining this baseball-specific information with our college recruiting guide, student-athletes can increase their chances of achieving their goal of making a college roster.

Create your highlights video

This section highlights one of the essential tools that recruits must utilize to promote themselves and enhance their visibility with college coaches. Given that coaches cannot be present everywhere to evaluate recruits, an effective skills video serves as a crucial first look. When it comes to baseball, coaches prioritize a player’s skills over game footage. Therefore, it is important to know what to include and exclude from the video.

Learn filming tips for each position that will help create a baseball recruiting skills video that leaves a positive first impression. However, once the video is completed, what is the next step? How can athletes ensure that coaches view it? Where should it be uploaded? What is the most effective way to get it in front of a coach?

Choose the right camp, showcase or tournament to attend

As previously mentioned, college coaches rely on showcase camps and travel team tournaments to evaluate the recruits they have identified. Therefore, it is essential for student-athletes to participate in game and showcase situations to get in front of coaches, gain experience, enhance their skills, and update their stats.

However, families are presented with numerous camp and tournament options, leaving them wondering which event is the best platform to showcase their athlete’s talents and skills. Should they prioritize attending a national showcase to increase exposure or participate in a college program’s camp that interests them? Additionally, how much should they budget for camps or showcases?

This section provides an in-depth comparison of each platform to help families make an informed (and cost-effective) decision and provide their student-athlete with the best opportunity to get evaluated by a college coach.

Find NCAA, NAIA and junior college baseball programs

With around 1,700 baseball programs across the United States, it can be a daunting task for student-athletes to decide which college is best suited for them. Many make the mistake of solely focusing on their sport and neglecting other important aspects such as academics and social life when applying to colleges. It’s crucial to consider the bigger picture and evaluate if a particular college would be a good fit for them even if baseball wasn’t part of the equation.

This section provides a comprehensive list of all colleges with baseball programs, categorized by division level, conference, city, and state. We also provide a breakdown of NCAA Division 1, Division 2, and Division 3 schools, as well as NAIA schools and junior colleges, to help recruits gain an understanding of the overall student-athlete experience, expectations, and culture at each level.

College baseball recruiting rankings

Many recruits, parents, and coaches believe that getting ranked by various organizations is essential to gaining publicity and attracting the attention of college coaches and professional scouts. Popular ranking platforms include Baseball Factory, Perfect Game, 247 Sports, and Baseball America.

While being a highly ranked recruit on these websites can increase exposure and help a recruit get discovered, it’s crucial to remember that not all athletes will have the elite skill set to break into these rankings. It’s essential for recruits to attend verified showcases and events to showcase their skills, but it’s also important not to rely solely on rankings. Finding the right college fit often requires a more direct approach, such as reaching out to schools of interest.